Highland Park has earned a loyal following for its balanced style. It combines gentle smoke with honeyed sweetness, heathery character, and a sense of place that is unmistakably Orkney. For many drinkers, it sits in the sweet spot between lightly peated Highland malts and the full force of Islay. That balance is exactly why it is so popular.
Yet if you enjoy Highland Park and want to turn up the smoke without losing nuance, there are several excellent alternatives that offer a little more peat while keeping the complexity intact.
Edradour Ballechin 10 Year Old, 46%, £52 / $65
Originally born from experimental peated runs at Edradour in the early 2000s, Ballechin is a supercharged Highland style where peat is present but wrapped in a wealth of flavour.
This classic release is fully matured in ex-bourbon barrels, although you can also find versions aged in wine or sherry casks. Expect chocolate, heather honey, complex herbal notes, and sweet American oak balancing the smoke. It remains an overlooked single malt.
Edradour became famous for being the smallest distillery in Scotland while producing high-quality spirit. That reputation still applies to its peated Ballechin offerings.
Torabhaig Allt Gleann, 46%, £47 / $59
A newer distillery, but one that has attracted attention for all the right reasons. Torabhaig arrived with a confident and characterful peated single malt. Distilled on the Isle of Skye with a pre-distillation PPM of 78, it sounds intimidating, but the whisky is far more than raw smoke.
After distillation and maturation, it becomes an assertive yet complex style with lift and freshness.
Beyond the peat, Torabhaig often has a wonderfully bright sweetness. Think malted biscuits, cake mix, fresh banana, and the occasional hint of white chocolate.
Glasgow 1770 Peated, 46%, £46 / $58
From one of the best cities in the world, The Glasgow Distillery showcases an impressive range of styles, including peated, unpeated, and triple-distilled spirit.
This release focuses on their peated style, matured in sherry casks, and it is the perfect antidote to a bone-chilling Glasgow winter. The whisky is juicy and rich with black cherries, ashy peat smoke, and fruit marinated in milk chocolate.
If you want something fun, modern, and distinctive, it fits the bill.
Lagavulin 8 Year Old, 48%, £45 / $60
A personal favourite since its launch for Lagavulin’s 200th anniversary in 2016. It was such a welcome addition that many were relieved when it became a permanent part of the range. It shows a lighter, fresher side of Lagavulin.
Expect lemon, black pepper, and a touch of high-quality mezcal. The smoke is earthy rather than heavy, and the overall impression feels like a different personality to the 16 year old, while standing proudly on its own merits.
It is an excellent entry point to a historic brand that is not always the most accessible in price.
Benromach 10 Year Old, 43%, £37 / $46
A Speyside distillery that lives in the memory. Benromach is classic in some respects, yet carries a gentle thread of peat smoke throughout. It is not the head-blowing style that some distilleries favour. Benromach has always been about subtlety, balance, and poise. The 10 year old delivers this effortlessly.
Matured in first-fill bourbon with a portion of first-fill sherry, it has a traditional East Coast profile with a historical whisper of peat. It is a whisky and a distillery that deserves more attention.
Conclusion
I really like Highland Park. It is a great brand producing great whisky. With so many options available today, it is natural to explore alternatives that offer a similar balance or a bolder take on smoke.
This list brings together classic and newer distilleries that combine peat, cask influence, and clear distillery character.
Peat is not something to fear. It is another layer of flavour, and when used well, it can elevate a whisky rather than dominate it.
Read the full article at 5 Smokier Whiskies to Try If You Love Highland Park
